Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American s… Read Full Bio ↴Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American singer, musician, and songwriter. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, and an interpreter of other composers' works, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including Gram Parsons, The Band, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Mark Knopfler, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Rodney Crowell, John Denver and Neil Young.

Harris is truly an innovator. For over 30 years, Emmylou has flowed effortlessly between genres achieving popularity in pop, folk, country and now alternative. The common bridge is an exquisite vocal style and a gift for discovering the heart of a song.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama on April 2, 1947, the daughter of Walter and Eugenia Harris grew up near Washington, D.C. As a college student in the late 60s, she sang with a local folk duo and eventually moved to Greenwich Village. She played the clubs on the local folk scene occasionally sharing the stage with Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg.

Discovered in 1971 by Chris Hillman, Hillman brought Gram Parsons to hear her sing in a small club in the Washington D.C. area. In 1972, she answered the call from Gram to join him in Los Angeles to work on his first solo album, "GP." According to Songfacts, Parsons tragic early death in 1973 left Harris at an emotional and musical crossroads. Her earliest signature song, Boulder To Birmingham was written shortly after Gram's death, and it showed the depth of her shock and pain at losing her friend and mentor.

After the loss of Gram, Emmylou went back to the D.C. area and formed a country band, playing with them until her 1975 major label debut, Pieces of the Sky, when she formed the first version of the legendary Hot Band. Over the years the Hot Band included world class players such as Albert Lee, Rodney Crowell and Hank DeVito.

Emmylou has been called by Billboard Magazine a "truly venturesome, genre-transcending pathfinder." Throughout her career, she has been admired for her talent as an artist and song connoisseur, but it was with her 2000 album, Red Dirt Girl, for which Ms. Harris was awarded her tenth (out of eleven total to date) Grammy, that she revealed she is also a gifted songwriter. Continuing the trend with her September 2003 album, Stumble Into Grace, Emmylou wrote ten of the album's eleven tracks. Though Emmylou is the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones.

She sings with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt on the incomparable albums Trio and Trio II, making all three artists living American legends.

A longtime social activist, Harris has lent her voice to many causes. She is active in cultural preservation issues, notably the Country Music Foundation and the Grand Ole Opry. As an animal rights activist and the owner of several dogs and cats, Emmylou also supports PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the Humane Society. Since 1997 she has been the most visible spokesperson for the Campaign for a Landmine Free World, drawing public attention and notable musical artists to the cause.

Shores of White Sand
Emmylou Harris Lyrics

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Here I go again
Back to the feeling
Of no worthy cause
To carry me home

'Cause my heart's been skipping
Like a flat rock on water
And with each ripple

The further I'm gone

[Chorus: ]
Some say I'm sinking
To muddy bottom
But somehow I'm sailing
To shores of white sand

If feel it rain
And the cross winds are changing
Lower my chances
To make it alone

But should you get lonesome
And your child need a mother
Just look for my traces
On the shores of white sand

[Chorus: Repeat 4X]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Emmylou Harris's song Shores of White Sand capture the sense of directionlessness and uncertainty that accompanies heartbreak. The singer's heart has been skipping like a flat rock on water, and with each ripple, she feels herself slipping further and further away from home. Despite feeling lost in the currents of her emotions, she holds onto a glimmer of hope - the idea that even though she may feel like she's sinking, she's actually sailing towards something beautiful. This "shores of white sand" could be a metaphor for a new beginning, a brighter future, or a peaceful sanctuary.

Throughout the song, there's a sense of resignation, as though the singer has accepted that she can't control the direction of her life. She notes that the cross winds are changing and lowering her chances of making it alone. Yet, there's also a sense of resilience - she leaves behind "traces" on the shores of white sand, a sign that she's lived and had a presence in the world. This is where the song takes a slightly different turn, offering comfort to someone else. The singer tells the listener that if they ever get lonesome and need a mother figure, they should look for her traces on the shores of white sand. It's a reminder that even though we may feel lost and directionless at times, we can leave an impact on others and help guide them along their own journey.

Overall, Shores of White Sand is a melancholic yet uplifting song that captures the bittersweet nature of life's ups and downs. It acknowledges the pain and uncertainty of heartbreak, but also offers a glimmer of hope and a reminder that our lives can have meaning and purpose, even in the midst of loss.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I go again
Starting another cycle of emotions

Back to the feeling
Returning to a past sentiment or sensation

Of no worthy cause
Having no specific purpose or intention

To carry me home
To provide direction or guidance

'Cause my heart's been skipping
Experiencing palpitations or irregular beats

Like a flat rock on water
Similar to a stone skipping on the surface of a lake

And with each ripple
With every subsequent movement or fluctuation

The further I'm gone
The deeper into the emotional state I become

Some say I'm sinking
Others believe I am losing control or failing

To muddy bottom
To the lowest and least desirable state

But somehow I'm sailing
Despite appearances, I am actually moving forward